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Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke has expressed his support of manager Arsene Wenger and is hopeful the French boss will extend his stay at the club beyond his current deal.

The 63-year-old had faced increasing criticism as the Gunners' trophy drought stretched to over eight seasons, but, now sitting top of the Premier League table, Kroenke is delighted Wenger remains in charge of the north Londoners.

"There’s no one I feel more strongly about and I think he is doing a great job," he told reporters. "We have been very supportive, we have never wavered, we are proud of him, proud of the club, the way the club is run and how it holds itself out to the world.

"Arsene knows how we feel, what our philosophy is, what we want to do and I feel like we are totally aligned. I think he wants to do it the exact same way as we do."

Wenger's current contract with Arsenal runs out next summer and, having been the target of interest from Paris Saint-Germain, Kroenke is keen for the veteran manager to renew his deal, though admits the decision rests solely with the Frenchman.

He continued: "Arsene is his own man, he will make up his own mind. There is a lot of pressure in the job, he has handled it very well but at some point we all make up our minds whether we continue in our careers."

Wenger has often come under fire for not spending money, though smashed the club's record transfer by signing Mesut Ozil, and Arsenal's American owner is keen not to interfere with the former Nagoya Grampus manager.

"I really enjoy Arsene – very smart, very intelligent," Kroenke added. "He has an absolute view on how he runs that team and the club. He has earned that right. Don’t look for me to interfere with that. I have learnt over the years that sometimes owners try do that and it is not so good. "